BG 14:21-22 – Signs of one who has transcended gunas

Then Arjuna said to Shri Krishna, “What are the signs of one who has this realization? How does that person who has transcended gunas behave and how does he vanquish gunas?” Shri Krishna said, “Arjuna, the moment you say that the person has transcended gunas, then there is no question of his behaviour. One who has transcended gunas, is not under their control; or, even though he may appear to be acting under the influence of gunas, he does not get afflicted by them. But if you are asking how to recognize whether he is under the control of gunas, then I will describe the signs of such a person.

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One who does not harbour a pride that he is the doer of karmas when he is deep into worldly ways under the influence of rajas guna; or, when the karma disappears, he does not feel bad; or, when the sattva guna rises and all the organs start shining with wisdom, he does not gloat with the thought that he is the only learned man; or, when the tamas guna dominates, he does not get afflicted by delusion, nor does he feel bad because of ignorance; or, he does not desire wisdom when delusion prevails; similarly, when he becomes wise, he does not discard karmas and does not feel bad about it.

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He does not pay any attention to the gunas arising on the body, like sun does not bother about morning, afternoon or evening. Such a wise person does not expect any other knowledge. Look, does the ocean need rains? Will such a person develop pride that he is the doer of the karma? Does the Himalaya shiver due to the snow? Or, will his wisdom disappear when he is under delusion? Look, does fire get burnt up because of summer?

Footnote :

Continuing with English translation of the great Sant Shri Dnyaneshwar’s commentary on Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta (BG) titled Bhavarthdeepika in Marathi and commonly known in Maharashtra as Shri Dnyaneshwari. This is the 234th post.

(The English translation is based on the prose rendering in Marathi of Shri Dnyaneshwari by Rev. Nanamaharaj Saakhare.)

Bhagawad Geeta verse 14:21

अर्जुन उवाच -

कैर्लिंगै- ्त्रीन्गु- ानेतानतीत- भवति प्रभो।

किमा- चार: कथं चैतांस्त्र- ीन्‌ गुणानतिवर्- तते॥

Bhagawad Geeta verse 14:22

श्री भगवानुवाच -

प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं- च मोहमेव च पांडव।

न द्वेष्टि संप्रवृत्त- ानि न निवृत्तानि- कांक्षति॥

L- iteral Meaning : - -

Arjuna said, “Oh Bhagawan, how to recognize the jiva that transcends these three gunas? What are his signs and behaviour? And how does he transcend the three gunas?

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Shree Bhagawan said, “Arjuna, he who does not hate illumination, attachment and delusion when they are present or long for them when they disappear;